Whereas the State Government is of opinion that it is necessary and expedient so to do for securing the maintenance or increase of supplies and services essential to the life of the community and for securing the equitable distribution and availability of petroleum products at fair prices:
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers under sub-rule (2) of Rule 114, of the Defence and Internal Security of India Rules, 1971, the Governor is pleased to make the following Order:
1. Short title, extent and commencement. - (i) This Order may be called the Uttar Pradesh Petroleum Products (Maintenance of Supplies) Control Order, 1977.
(ii) It shall extend to the whole of Uttar Pradesh.
(iii) It shall come into force at once and shall remain in force up to March 31, 1977 unless earlier revoked.
2. Definitions. - In this Order, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a) "dealer" in relation to a retail outlet means a person who being appointed as such by an Oil Company to operate such retail outlet is licensed under the Petroleum Rules, 1976.

(c) "retail outlet" means a filling station in which one or more dispensing pumps have been provided and where a petroleum product is sold in retail.

(d) "District Magistrate" includes the Additional District Magistrate, the District Supply Officer and other officer authorised by the District Magistrate to perform all or any of his functions under this Order.

3. Requirement to maintain minimum stock of petroleum products. - Every Dealer shall at all time maintain at his retail outlet a minimum stock of 1,000 (one thousand) litres of high speed diesel oil and 1,000 (one thousand litres of motor spirit each apart from the dead stock and from out of the minimum stock referred to above, the sales shall be made by him to such person and in such quantity 'only as is specified in a permit issued in that behalf by the District Magistrate.
Provided that the dealer shall replenish the stock so sold to the permit holder so as to keep as may be, the minimum referred to above.,
4. Account, information and powers of search and seizure. - (1) The District Magistrate may with a view to carrying out the provisions of this Order-

(i) by a general or special order require the dealer of any retail out-let or any other person carrying on the business of sale of petroleum products-

(a) to maintain such record and furnish such information as may be specified in such order;

(b) to produce to such authority as may be specified in such order any books, accounts or other documents relating to the sale or disposal of petroleum products;

(ii) inspect or cause to be inspected any books, accounts or other documents relating to the sale or disposal of such petroleum products;

(iii) enter or search or inspect or authorise any person to enter or search or inspect any dealer of petroleum products;

(iv) seize or authorize any person to seize, any petroleum products in respect of which he has reason to believe that a contravention of this order has been committed or is likely to be committed or any books, accounts or other documents relating thereto.

(2) The provisions of Section 100 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act 2 of 1974), relating to search and seizure shall, so far as may be, apply to search and seizures under this Order.